The '''comp.sys.sinclair Crap Games Competition''' (also known simply as the '''CSSCGC''') is an annual competition for [[wiktionary:crap|crap]] [[wikipedia:computer game|computer game]] development.<ref name="sinclairfaq">[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/cssfolklore/index.html comp.sys.sinclair Folklore FAQ]</ref> It is specifically targeted at the [[wikipedia:Sinclair Research|Sinclair Research]] range of 8-bit computers including clones, derivatives and emulators of those systems.<ref>[http://zxnet.co.uk/spectrum/cgc/about.html Everything you never wanted to know about the CSSCGC]</ref>

The '''comp.sys.sinclair Crap Games Competition''' (also known simply as the '''CSSCGC''') is an annual competition for [[wiktionary:crap|crap]] [[wikipedia:computer game|computer game]] development.<ref name="sinclairfaq">[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/cssfolklore/index.html comp.sys.sinclair Folklore FAQ]</ref> It is specifically targeted at the [[wikipedia:Sinclair Research|Sinclair Research]] range of 8-bit computers including clones, derivatives and emulators of those systems.<ref>[http://zxnet.co.uk/spectrum/cgc/about.html Everything you never wanted to know about the CSSCGC]</ref>

==History==

==History==

−

The competition was originated by posters to the comp.sys.sinclair [[wikipedia:newsgroup|newsgroup]] and was inspired by the Cascade [[wikipedia:Cassette 50|Cassette 50]] compilation,<ref name="sinclairfaq" /><ref name="ZXF4-1">"CSSCGC2002 result; CSSCGC2003 kicks off; CC50 is 20 years old" - ZX Format issue 4, pages 18–19</ref> an early example of [[wikipedia:shovelware|shovelware]], as well as Rich Pelley's ''Crap Game Corner'' from [[wikipedia:Your Sinclair|Your Sinclair]] Magazine.<ref name="cgc2006about" /> It started off in 1996<ref name="eq" /><ref name="woodcock1">[ftp://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/spectrum/books/ZXSpectrumOnYourPCThe.pdf The ZX Spectrum on your PC]</ref> merely as an idea to "outdo" the original Cassette 50 tape by producing a compilation of newsgroup members' own efforts.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/60835d47b288d4e3</ref> During subsequent years, it evolved into the present-day form of competition. As of 2011, the event has taken place every year since 1996 and by the end of 2010 a total of 785 entries had been submitted.<ref name="eq">[http://equ.in/ox/spectrum/csscgc/ Crap Games Competition]</ref><ref name="unsat">[http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/csscgc/csscgc.cgi Crap Game Finder]</ref><!-- and has gained mention in the ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' magazine.<ref>Retro Gamer, issue 61, March 2009.</ref> --> To date, the competition has remained an informal hobbyist, community-driven event. Although it lacks any formal organisation or centralised controlling body, it remains an unofficial feature of the retrogaming community to which other games are sometimes compared.<ref name="retrogamer1">"Hall of Shame: Chase HQ" - Retro Gamer, issue 5, page 16</ref><ref name="ZXPRESS-1">"Interface - Alex Xor о положеннии дел игровой индустрии на ZX Spectrum." - Adventurer, issue 15</ref>

+

The competition was originated by posters to the comp.sys.sinclair [[wikipedia:newsgroup|newsgroup]] and was inspired by the Cascade [[wikipedia:Cassette 50|Cassette 50]] compilation,<ref name="sinclairfaq" /><ref name="ZXF4-1">"CSSCGC2002 result; CSSCGC2003 kicks off; CC50 is 20 years old" - ZX Format issue 4, pages 18–19</ref> an early example of [[wikipedia:shovelware|shovelware]], as well as Rich Pelley's ''Crap Game Corner'' from [[wikipedia:Your Sinclair|Your Sinclair]] Magazine.<ref name="cgc2006about" /> It started off in 1996<ref name="eq" /><ref name="woodcock1">[https://computerarchive.org/files/comp/books/ZX%20spectrum/ZXSpectrumOnYourPCThe.pdf The ZX Spectrum on your PC]</ref> merely as an idea to "outdo" the original Cassette 50 tape by producing a compilation of newsgroup members' own efforts.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/60835d47b288d4e3</ref> During subsequent years, it evolved into the present-day form of competition. As of 2011, the event has taken place every year since 1996 and by the end of 2010 a total of 785 entries had been submitted.<ref name="eq">[http://equ.in/ox/spectrum/csscgc/ Crap Games Competition]</ref><ref name="unsat">[http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/csscgc/csscgc.cgi Crap Game Finder]</ref><!-- and has gained mention in the ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' magazine.<ref>Retro Gamer, issue 61, March 2009.</ref> --> To date, the competition has remained an informal hobbyist, community-driven event. Although it lacks any formal organisation or centralised controlling body, it remains an unofficial feature of the retrogaming community to which other games are sometimes compared.<ref name="retrogamer1">"Hall of Shame: Chase HQ" - Retro Gamer, issue 5, page 16</ref><ref name="ZXPRESS-1">"Interface - Alex Xor о положеннии дел игровой индустрии на ZX Spectrum." - Adventurer, issue 15</ref>

==Details==

==Details==

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The vast majority of the games submitted are for the [[wikipedia:ZX Spectrum|ZX Spectrum]] platform, which was the most successful and popular Sinclair computer.<ref>[http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/zxspectrum/zxspectrum.htm ZX Spectrum]</ref> However, games for the [[wikipedia:ZX80|ZX80]], [[wikipedia:ZX81|ZX81]]<ref name="ZXF7-1">"CSSCGC 2003 Results" - ZX Format, issue 7, page 16</ref> & [[wikipedia:Jupiter Ace|Jupiter Ace]] (a non-Sinclair "derivative" computer) as well as several other related computer models have also been submitted to the competition.<ref name="csscgc2008results" /> The exact list of permitted hardware platforms as well as the scope of allowed software is at the complete discretion of the incumbent judge, with variations in the rules commonplace from one year to the next.

The vast majority of the games submitted are for the [[wikipedia:ZX Spectrum|ZX Spectrum]] platform, which was the most successful and popular Sinclair computer.<ref>[http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/zxspectrum/zxspectrum.htm ZX Spectrum]</ref> However, games for the [[wikipedia:ZX80|ZX80]], [[wikipedia:ZX81|ZX81]]<ref name="ZXF7-1">"CSSCGC 2003 Results" - ZX Format, issue 7, page 16</ref> & [[wikipedia:Jupiter Ace|Jupiter Ace]] (a non-Sinclair "derivative" computer) as well as several other related computer models have also been submitted to the competition.<ref name="csscgc2008results" /> The exact list of permitted hardware platforms as well as the scope of allowed software is at the complete discretion of the incumbent judge, with variations in the rules commonplace from one year to the next.

−

In theory, the competition is organised, hosted and judged by a different individual each year, although some organisers have hosted and judged it on more than one occasion.<ref name="unsat" /><ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/e4d22e85a4f2dede?hl=en</ref> The host and judge are often the same person. However, as in the case of the 2005 competition, the judge can be a different person than the host. Typically, the loser of the competition is asked to be the host and/or judge of the following year's competition, whilst the winner may receive a low-value prize, or perhaps nothing at all apart from the recognition of having won. Another informal tradition is that the closing date of the competition may be deliberately set further back by the host whilst the competition itself is running,<ref>[http://lofi-gaming.org.uk/speccy/csscgc/ The CSS Crap Games Competition]</ref> often adding to the confusion and disorganisation that has been a hallmark of the event. However, as the rules vary according to the judge of the day, these practices are not always upheld. Over the years, the competition has generally maintained a whimsical and humorous approach to retro game development and judging.

+

In theory, the competition is organised, hosted and judged by a different individual each year, although some organisers have hosted and judged it on more than one occasion.<ref name="unsat" /><ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/e4d22e85a4f2dede?hl=en</ref> The host and judge are often the same person. However, as in the case of the 2005 competition, the judge can be a different person than the host. Some confusion seems to exist regarding the terms loser and winner. The winner should be considered the author who produces the worst game, and the loser the one who produces the best game. Typically, the loser of the competition is asked to be the host and/or judge of the following year's competition, whilst the winner may receive a low-value prize, or perhaps nothing at all apart from the recognition of having won. Another informal tradition is that the closing date of the competition may be deliberately set further back by the host whilst the competition itself is running,<ref>[http://lofi-gaming.org.uk/speccy/csscgc/ The CSS Crap Games Competition]</ref> often adding to the confusion and disorganisation that has been a hallmark of the event. However, as the rules vary according to the judge of the day, these practices are not always upheld. Over the years, the competition has generally maintained a whimsical and humorous approach to retro game development and judging.

==Availability of submissions==

==Availability of submissions==

−

Previously, all competition entries were archived at the [[wikipedia:World of Spectrum|World of Spectrum]] FTP site <ref>ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/csscgc/</ref>. Although since the discontinuation of that FTP server, entries up to the year 2012 are available via the [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/csscgc/ World of Spectrum website] and [https://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/csscgc/ the wos.meulie.net mirror]. CSSCGC submissions are ordinarily considered freely distributable, assuming that permission has been granted.<ref>[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/permits/ ARCHIVE - COPYRIGHTS AND DISTRIBUTION PERMISSIONS]</ref> Entries up to and including CSSCGC 2014 are also organised and catalogued at Unsatisfactory Software's 'Crap Game Finder' website.<ref name="unsat" /> However, technically the copyright status of submissions can vary. For example the 2006 competition rules stated that all games are copyright their respective authors <ref name="cgc2006about">[http://www.mattrudge.net/cgc2006/about.html About The Competition]</ref> whereas the 2008 and 2009 rules simply stated that all authors agree to free distribution of their submissions.<ref>[http://reptonix.awardspace.co.uk/sinclair/csscgc2008/#rules CSSCGC 2008 Rules]</ref><ref>[http://zxnet.co.uk/spectrum/cgc/rules.html the CSSCGC rules]</ref> In at least one case, an author has withdrawn a submission and rescinded distribution permission on it.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/2737cd792f80b66c</ref>

+

Zipfiles containing previous competition submissions are available for download at the [http://www.yoursinclair.co.uk/csscgc/archives/ Crap Game Finder archives]. Previously, all competition entries were archived at the [[wikipedia:World of Spectrum|World of Spectrum]] FTP site <ref>Original URL was ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/csscgc/ although the public FTP service is no longer available</ref>. Although since the discontinuation of that FTP server, entries up to the year 2012 also remain available via the [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/csscgc/ World of Spectrum website] and [https://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/csscgc/ the wos.meulie.net mirror]. CSSCGC submissions are ordinarily considered freely distributable, assuming that permission has been granted.<ref>[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/permits/ ARCHIVE - COPYRIGHTS AND DISTRIBUTION PERMISSIONS]</ref> Entries up to and including CSSCGC 2014 are also organised and catalogued at Unsatisfactory Software's 'Crap Game Finder' website.<ref name="unsat" /> However, technically the copyright status of submissions can vary. For example the 2006 competition rules stated that all games are copyright their respective authors <ref name="cgc2006about">[http://www.mattrudge.net/cgc2006/about.html About The Competition]</ref> whereas the 2008 and 2009 rules simply stated that all authors agree to free distribution of their submissions.<ref>[http://reptonix.awardspace.co.uk/sinclair/csscgc2008/#rules CSSCGC 2008 Rules]</ref><ref>[http://zxnet.co.uk/spectrum/cgc/rules.html the CSSCGC rules]</ref> In at least one case, an author has withdrawn a submission and rescinded distribution permission on it.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/2737cd792f80b66c</ref>

==Table of competitions==

==Table of competitions==

−

The following table is necessarily incomplete since full ranking of all submissions has only been carried out in the later competitions.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/df73ad03ee99ab4c</ref> Also, in 1997 no ranking was applied at all, as the emphasis was in producing a crap game compilation, rather than a competitive event.<ref>ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/csscgc/CSSCrapGamesCompetition1997.zip See the file "MANUAL.TXT" inside the archive.</ref> Some of the earlier websites' original links are now dead and therefore omitted from the table. Others are now only present in archival form, for example on World of Spectrum or the [[wikipedia:Wayback Machine|Wayback Machine]].

+

The following table is necessarily incomplete since full ranking of all submissions has only been carried out in the later competitions.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/comp.sys.sinclair/msg/df73ad03ee99ab4c</ref> Also, in 1997 no ranking was applied at all, as the emphasis was in producing a crap game compilation, rather than a competitive event.<ref>http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/csscgc/CSSCrapGamesCompetition1997.zip See the file "MANUAL.TXT" inside the archive.</ref> Some of the earlier websites' original links are now dead and therefore omitted from the table. Others are now only present in archival form, for example on World of Spectrum or the [[wikipedia:Wayback Machine|Wayback Machine]].

Latest revision as of 17:30, 20 August 2019

The comp.sys.sinclair Crap Games Competition (also known simply as the CSSCGC) is an annual competition for crapcomputer game development.[1] It is specifically targeted at the Sinclair Research range of 8-bit computers including clones, derivatives and emulators of those systems.[2]

Contents

History

The competition was originated by posters to the comp.sys.sinclair newsgroup and was inspired by the Cascade Cassette 50 compilation,[1][3] an early example of shovelware, as well as Rich Pelley's Crap Game Corner from Your Sinclair Magazine.[4] It started off in 1996[5][6] merely as an idea to "outdo" the original Cassette 50 tape by producing a compilation of newsgroup members' own efforts.[7] During subsequent years, it evolved into the present-day form of competition. As of 2011, the event has taken place every year since 1996 and by the end of 2010 a total of 785 entries had been submitted.[5][8] To date, the competition has remained an informal hobbyist, community-driven event. Although it lacks any formal organisation or centralised controlling body, it remains an unofficial feature of the retrogaming community to which other games are sometimes compared.[9][10]

Details

Generally, the aim of the competition and criteria for entry and ranking have been loosely defined.[11] The focus has tended to be on low-quality games which reproduce the look, feel and unplayability of those found on the original Cascade Cassette 50 tape.[11] Also, games which parody, satirise or even extend those of the original Cassette 50 tape have been submitted. In later years the scope had broadened considerably with many newer titles bearing little resemblance to those on the Cassette 50 tape. Some accepted titles have consisted of technical tricks, joke programs or applications rather than games.[12] Authors have also submitted deliberately good programs to the competition.[13] A significant proportion of submissions have the word "simulator" in the title, a reference to Codemasters games that often had "simulator" in the title and often alluding to simulating something either completely mundane or conversely something well beyond the realistic limits of an 8-bit system.[12]

Since its inception, the competition had originally been dominated by UK-based entrants and judges, although in 2008 for example, the competition gained considerable international participation, with games being submitted from several countries including most notably Spain,[14] Argentina, Italy & Russia. Of particular note were the submissions of games in the Spanish and Russian languages and an eventual competition victory by a Spanish development team.[15]

Submissions are very often written in interpreted Sinclair BASIC, suitable because of its slowness and limited audiovisual features.[1] However, submitted titles have also been developed in Z80 machine code, compiled BASIC, Small-C (using Z88DK) and FORTH amongst others.[12]

The vast majority of the games submitted are for the ZX Spectrum platform, which was the most successful and popular Sinclair computer.[16] However, games for the ZX80, ZX81[17] & Jupiter Ace (a non-Sinclair "derivative" computer) as well as several other related computer models have also been submitted to the competition.[12] The exact list of permitted hardware platforms as well as the scope of allowed software is at the complete discretion of the incumbent judge, with variations in the rules commonplace from one year to the next.

In theory, the competition is organised, hosted and judged by a different individual each year, although some organisers have hosted and judged it on more than one occasion.[8][18] The host and judge are often the same person. However, as in the case of the 2005 competition, the judge can be a different person than the host. Some confusion seems to exist regarding the terms loser and winner. The winner should be considered the author who produces the worst game, and the loser the one who produces the best game. Typically, the loser of the competition is asked to be the host and/or judge of the following year's competition, whilst the winner may receive a low-value prize, or perhaps nothing at all apart from the recognition of having won. Another informal tradition is that the closing date of the competition may be deliberately set further back by the host whilst the competition itself is running,[19] often adding to the confusion and disorganisation that has been a hallmark of the event. However, as the rules vary according to the judge of the day, these practices are not always upheld. Over the years, the competition has generally maintained a whimsical and humorous approach to retro game development and judging.

Availability of submissions

Zipfiles containing previous competition submissions are available for download at the Crap Game Finder archives. Previously, all competition entries were archived at the World of Spectrum FTP site [20]. Although since the discontinuation of that FTP server, entries up to the year 2012 also remain available via the World of Spectrum website and the wos.meulie.net mirror. CSSCGC submissions are ordinarily considered freely distributable, assuming that permission has been granted.[21] Entries up to and including CSSCGC 2014 are also organised and catalogued at Unsatisfactory Software's 'Crap Game Finder' website.[8] However, technically the copyright status of submissions can vary. For example the 2006 competition rules stated that all games are copyright their respective authors [4] whereas the 2008 and 2009 rules simply stated that all authors agree to free distribution of their submissions.[22][23] In at least one case, an author has withdrawn a submission and rescinded distribution permission on it.[24]

Table of competitions

The following table is necessarily incomplete since full ranking of all submissions has only been carried out in the later competitions.[25] Also, in 1997 no ranking was applied at all, as the emphasis was in producing a crap game compilation, rather than a competitive event.[26] Some of the earlier websites' original links are now dead and therefore omitted from the table. Others are now only present in archival form, for example on World of Spectrum or the Wayback Machine.